Be careful, seniors! Police warn of brazen scammers on the phone!

Be careful, seniors! Police warn of brazen scammers on the phone!

Last week, another worrying case of fraud became known in the Euskirchen district. On July 14th, around noon, a senior citizen from Weilerswist received a call from what was supposed to be an employee of a consulting firm for older people. The caller was very interested in her personal circumstances and suggested a personal meeting. However, the entire conversation left the woman feeling uneasy, who immediately contacted a family member and informed the police. Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports that this scam has now occurred in several cases in the Euskirchen district.

What is particularly perfidious is that the perpetrators present themselves as friendly and helpful. They often manage to get into the living quarters of older people under the pretext of a harmless consultation. Later, those affected often discover that valuables, cash or jewelry have been lost. The police have therefore issued an urgent warning and recommend that you be suspicious of calls from unknown people. Important advice is not to reveal any personal or financial information, not to let strangers into the house and to immediately end suspicious phone calls. Relatives or the police should be informed immediately in such cases.

Another case of fraud

Another, almost identical incident shows how deceptive good intentions can seem. A senior citizen received a call from a scammer posing as a prosecutor. Loud Police NRW He claimed that an international arrest warrant had been issued against them and that the only way to avoid trial was to immediately hand over jewelry, gold and cash. Several calls and a fake letter from a higher regional court deliberately created fear in order to put pressure on the senior citizen.

Fortunately, this woman also informed a family member and worked closely with the police. On June 5th, a fake money handover was organized, during which a 23-year-old man from Lower Saxony was temporarily arrested. Investigations into gang and commercial fraud are ongoing and police are encouraging anyone affected to report suspected cases immediately.

Protection against fraud

The police warn that the professionalism of the perpetrators and their methods are constantly increasing. Loud Care Panorama There was an increase of over 50% in cyber fraud against the elderly in 2023. Perpetrators often focus on online banking and use phishing attacks to obtain sensitive data.

The rapidly changing digital world poses great challenges, especially for seniors, as they often have to laboriously acquire the necessary knowledge in order to act safely online. Fraudsters shamelessly exploit this, for example by posing as technical support staff to gain access to computers and then spy on bank details.

The topic of fraud protection is more relevant than ever - especially at a time when digitalization is advancing at breakneck speed. It is important that all seniors, but also their relatives, remain attentive and well informed!